Furniture construction



Dec. 11, 1951 w. N. BROWN 2,578,397

FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 10, 1948 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM N. BROWN ATTORNEY Dec. 11, 1951 w. N. BROWN 2,578,397

FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 10, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.IO

INVENTOR. FIG. I2 WILLIAM N. BROWN ATTO NEY W. N. BROWN FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Dec. 11, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 10, 1948 INVENTOR. WIL LIAM N. BROWN BY ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 11, 1951 2,57 8,397 FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION William N. Brown, Winona Lake, Ind., assignor to Arnolt Corporation, Warsaw, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application February 10, 1948, Serial No. 7,332

Claims.

This invention relates generally to the art of making furniture and has particular reference to furniture structures made of metal tubing.

Tubular metal framed furniture has long been shipped and sold in assembled condition to the u timate retail outlet, and it has been recognized that it would be a great deal more advantageous and economical to ship and sell such furniture in knocked down or KD form to the retail outlet where it could be assembled prior to display for sale. However, such knocked down components for'making up such furniture have ordinarily been difficult to assemble, particularly by workmen not possessed of special tools nor of special skills.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to enable tubular metal framed furniture to be shipped in knocked down form so that it may be assembled by the user or the retail outlet, such assembly being characterized by the absence of any requirement for special tools or skilled workmen.

Another object is to form the members comprising a tubular frame structure in such a fashion that the members may be readily assembled by unskilled workmen using only the simplest tools.

Still another object is to form the members of a tubular frame structure in such a fashion that they may readily be fastened together to form a structure which will be unusually rigid and'able to withstand loads or forces tending to disrupt the connection between such members.

Yet another object is to form the members making .up a tubular frame chair structure with certain configurations in cross-section of the tubing employedtherein to the end that these configurations may be employed with clips or separating members and connecting bolts to connect the members in a rigid and firm assembly.

Still another object is to enable a tubular metal frame furniture to be assembled in such a fashion that the means for such assembly will not be discernible to the user.

Other and further objects and important features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the. accompanying drawings which, by Way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best modes in which I have contemplated ap lying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles; may be used and struc- 2 tural changesmay be, made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair frame embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a chair frame embodying the invention but employing frame members of a different shape from that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the frame members of Figs. 1 and 2 which lie in a substantially horizontal plane to provide a support for a seat and showing details of the manner in which the frame members are secured together;

Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows t-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a chair frame embodying the invention simi ar to that shown in Fig. l but employing a different arrangement for fastening the frame members together;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 7

"but employing frame members of a different shape from the embodiment shown in Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the frame members of Figs. '7 and 8 and showing the mode of securing the frame members together;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken on the line lt-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section taken on the line I|H of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a transverse section taken through apair of frame members similar to those shown in Figs. 1, 2, '7 or 8 and showing another way in which the frame members may be deformed to cooperate with fastening and separating members which together prevent the contiguous frame members from rotating with respect to each other;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a chair frame embodying the invention and incorporating still another manner of securing the frame members together;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of contiguous portions of the frame members lying in the plane of the seat support and showing the manner in which the frame portions are secured together;

Fig-.15 isa: perspective partly explodedview of the frame members'shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a transverse section taken on the line I6I6 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 1'7 is a transverse section taken on the lin I'I-I'I of Fig. 14.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied in a chair frame comprised of three tubular metal frame members 2I, 22 and 23, members 2! and 22 being spaced from each other and alike in proportions, and each being provided with leg portions 24 and a connecting portion 26 lying in a substantially horizontal plane. The frame member 23 is substantially U-shaped and includes a pair of upstanding portions 2'! and spaced portions 28 which lie in the same substantially horizontal plane as the portions 26 of the members 22 and. from corresponding ends of which the portions 21 are extended. The other ends of the portions 28 are connected by an integral cross bar 28F. The portions 26 of the members 2I and the portions 28 of the members 23 provide spaced contiguous pairs of said portions disposed in said substantially horizontal plane, the paired portions so formed being connected at a plurality of points as at 29, by means as will be presently described. The frame members 22 are also provided with a plurality of holes 3I whereby a seat or cushion may be fastened to the members 22, and the upstanding back frame portions 2'! of the frame member 23 are similarly provided with holes 32 for securing a back or rest, the seat and the back or rest not being shown.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown an alternate form of a chair frame indicated at 23A which employs frame members of a different shape from that shown in Fig. 1. As shown, the chair frame 20A consists of spaced frame members 2IA, each of which comprises a leg portion 24A, a portion 23A lying in a substantially horizontal plane and an upstanding portion 27A adapted to form a back for the chair structure 20A. The chair frame structure 23A also includes a substantially U-shaped member 23A consisting of leg portions 25A and spaced portions 28A which lie in a substantially horizontal plane including the portions 26A of frame members 2|A and 22A, and the forward ends of the portions 28A are joined by an integral front bar 28FA. As shown, the frame members 2IA and 22A are connected to the frame member 23A at a plurality of points indicated at 29A in a manner similar to that shown with respect to Fig. 1 and which will presently be described in detail. As with the chair frame structure shown in Fig. 1, the chair frame structure 20A may be provided in the portion 26A with a plurality of holes BIA for fastening a seat thereto, and with holes 32A in the portions 27A for securing a back support.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, there is shown in plan view one of the spaced contiguous pairs of portions 26 and 28 which lie in the substantially horizontal common plane. For purposes of convenience reference will be made only to the portions of the frame members shown in Fig. 1, but the description obtaining with reference to Fig. 1 will obtain also with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the contiguous portions 23 and 28 are formed on their proximate faces with transverse or vertically disposed grooves 33 and 34 which are in register with each other and which are engaged by a substantially U-shaped spacer element 33 having vertical limbs 3'! engaging the opposed grooves 33 and 3 3. Means are provided for holding the portions 26 and 28 together with the separator or spacer element 36 therebetween, and to this end the portion 28 has passing therethrough a bolt 38 which is adapted to engage a nut 39 that is fixed in position in the inner wall of the portion 26 in a known manner. As shown, the nut 39 has a shoulder dl bearing against the outside surface of the portion 26 and a shoulder 42 formed and bearing against the inside surface of the portion 23. This nut 39 is of the construction made and sold by Goodrich Tire and Rubber Co.

By the arrangement thus far described it will be seen that the members comprising a tubular metal chair structure may be shipped in knocked down condition and easily and conven iently assembled by the means describe-d witi'i particular reference to Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive and without the requirement of skilled labor. With the arrangement thus far described the members making up a tubular metal chair frame are held against movement with respect to each other, particularly any rotative or longitudinal mo ment of the portions 26; and 28 with respect to each other, and this is accomplished by the clamping of the complemental surfaces of the elements 33 and 34 against the elements 3? by the screw 33 and nut 33. Such clamping exerts considerable crushing force the securing portion 28, and to prevent crushing, the portion 25 has reinforcing grooves SAT and 34B forage-d in the upper and lower surfaces thereof paralicl to and in the plane of the screw or bolt 38. It wili also be apparent that the assembly means de' scribed particularly with reference to Figs. 3 to 6 will not interfere with or disfigui'e the outer faces of the frame portions 25 and 261%, the as sembly means described being further concealed by the seat, not shown, that is adapted to be secured to the chair structure 251 and 23A at the holes 3| and 3|A.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a tubular chair frame structure similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The chair frame struc ture is indicated at I29 and is provided w frame members I2! and I22 which are fastened to a substantially U-shaped frame member 23 to form a tubular frame structure. The mem-' bers I 2I and 22 have leg portions I24 and portions I25 which lie in a substantially horizontal common plane. The substantially U-shaped frame member i23 has upstanding portions i2! and substantially horizontal spaced portions i28 which lie in the plane common to the por tions 126 of the frame members I'Zi, the spaced contiguous pairs of frame portions I26 i223 being connected as indicated generally at 3 and as will be described presently more fully. The forward ends of the portions I28 are joined by an integral front bar I28F. In order to pro vide for the attachment of a seat the frame portions I23 are provided with holes I3I, and in order to provide for the attachment of a back. the upstanding portions I21 are provided with mounting holes I32.

The tubular frame chair structure I2A of Fig. 8 is like the chair structure described with reference to Fig. 2 and consists of spaced frame mem-- bers I2 IA and I22A and a substantially U-shaped member I23A. The members I2IA and I22A have leg portions I24A and substantially horizontal portions E23A which lie in a common plane, the portions iZSA being continuous with substantially vertical portions IZYA. These substantially U-shaped" members l23A have spaced portions IZSALWhifihaffljohaed at their forwardawrsgaw:

ends by an integral frontbar IZBFAF In the as sembled-chair the portions IZ'GA- are contiguous to the portions I 26A of the frame members I2 in, and- I'22A and'lie in the common substantialiy horizontal plane, the spaced portions iiitA being continuous with leg portions 525A. Means are provided for joining the portions E which are contiguous to the portions IZ iA shown generally at IZBA and which will be described more fully hereinfater. Holes ISIA are provided in the portions I26A of the members INA and I225. to the end that a chair seat, not shown, maybe secured to the frame structure I28, and similar holes 32A- are provided portions 32% to enable a chair back to be secured thereto.

Referringnow to Figs. 9 to 11, the fastening means I29 of Fig. 7,. which is similar to fastening means I29A shown with reference to Fig. 8' (the description of the fastening means of Fig. 7 therefore, will suffice for Fig. 8 as well) comprises U-shaped spacer elements I35 having vertical limbs I3! adapted to follow the surface of the contiguous frame portions lit and i253, and which are provided with lugs 38 adapted to extend into and interlock with openings I39 formed in the proximate faces of the contiguous portions I2& and 528. The frame portions I23 and I28 are adapted to be held in such interlocked relation with the spacer elements $35 by means of a bolt MI which passes through the frame portion I28 and which cooperates. with nut I42 which is of the same kind as the nut 39 so as to have a shoulder M3 on the exterior of the contiguous portion i275 and a shoulder I42 on the interior of the frame portion i2 3.

Alternately the proximate faces of the contiguous frame portions !26 and I28 of Fig. 7 (and similarly the contiguous frame portions IZGA and I28A of Fig. 8) may be deformed to provide contiguous frame portions I26B and I283 which are spaced by spacer elements 5353 having limbs I3'EB formed to match the contour of the proximate faces of the portions IZfiB and I283, the assembly shown in Fig. 12 being joined by means of a bolt IAIB passing through the frame portions I 253 and i233 and secured by a nut I223. The rotative locking action in this form of the invention is attained by forming notches M'IB in the opposite sides of the limbs ISlB, and forming the adjacent side walls of the members I263 and I28B in an angular shape I iiiB that is complemental in part with the notches M113. The bolt HUB serves of course to draw the elements IdlB and I483 into a firmly interlocked relation.

The tubular frame chair or furniture structure described with reference to Figs. 7 to 12- inclusive is' conveniently and readily assembled by persons requiring no particular degree of skill, and the resultant structure is able to resist all the usual kind of loads placed thereon. With the arrangement of the fastening means shown with particular reference to Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive the contiguous frame portions 526 and I28 are held against rotation on their axes with respect to each other, as well as against longitudinal displacement, thus insuring that the frame members making up the chair frame structure will not become misaligned. The embodiment of the invention described with reference to Figs. 9 to 11 is further characterized by the advantage that the means for fastening the frame members together is not visible to the user, all exterior surfaces being unbroken or unmarred by the fastening means described.

Referring now to Fig. 13, there is shown another embodiment which thezinvention. may assume in practice; thei: chair .1 frame structure being illustrated as being similar to that shown in- Figs 1 and! and being characterized by the provision by another form of fastening means for holding the frame members in assembled relationship. Thus, the structure 226 consists of frame'members HI and 222 which are joined with a substantially U-shaped frame member :23, the members HI and 222 being formed with leg'portions 224, and the U-shaped member I23 being formed with upstanding portions 221 to provide support for a chair back. As with the embodiment shown in Figs. land 7, the frame members 22! and 222 have substantially horizontal portions 226 which lie in a common plane, the U-shaped frame member I23 having spaced portions 228 which also liein the same plane, the spaced contiguous pairs of said frame portions'being connected'as indicated generally at 229. The substantially horizontal portions 226 are provided with holes |3I to enable a seat or cushionto be secured thereto, and the upright portions'22l' areprovided with holes I32 whereby a chair back may be secured thereto.

Referring now to Figs. 14 to 1'7 inclusive, the fastening means indicated generally at 229 for securing the frame portion 226 and the frame portion 228 together consists of a stamping 23l secured to the frame portion 226 by welding or any other convenient manner. The stamping 23I is formed with a pair of spaced securing portions 23IS which are the portions that are welded or otherwise fastened to the face of thetube portion 226', and between these portions 23I'S the stamping has an outwardly projecting U-shaped anchoring portion that is afforded by walls'23lW and a cross member 23IM that extends generally parallel to the axis of the tube portion 226 and in such spaced relation thereto that a nut 23'! may be disposed between the tube and the cross member 23IM. An opening 23IH is formed in the cross member 23IM so that a bolt 23s which is extended through the tube portion 223 may be engaged with the nut 23-? to draw the tube portions 225 and 225 together. To fix the tube portions 225 and 228 in a rigid relation when the bolt 236 is thus tightened, the tube 228 has its inner side, that isthe side that is adjacent the tube portion 225, formed inan angular or wedge shape as indicated at 228W, and at the opposite end portions of the brackets or stampings 231, arms 23?. are formed having complemental notches 233 to receive the wedge surfaces 228W. Thus, upon tightening of the" bolts 235, the notches 233 and the wedge'surfaceszmw are-engaged in a rigid relation.

The form of the invention described with reference to Figs. 13 to 17 inclusive is characterized. as are the other embodiments of the invention, by the feature that the fastening means for holding the frame members together will be completely concealed from the casual observer, and

., being further characterized by complete rigidity of the connected elements even though these elements are of such a character as to be readily secured together by unskilled workers.

From the foregoing description, which has been had with reference to a number of preferred embodiments which the invention may assume in practice, it will be evident that the present invention enables frames for furniture such as chairs to be shipped in a convenient knocked down form, the members comprising such a chair frame or the like being capable of being readily assembled by the workers in the usual retail furniture store to afiord such a rigid frame.

It will be evident of course that in all of the embodiments of the invention, the connected parts are held securely against relative longitudinal displacement as well as against relative rocking Of the tubular members about the axes of the connected parts. Moreover, in all of the embodiments, the parts are so formed and related as to effectually resist the crushing forces incident to the tightening of the clamping or securing bolts.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and that I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as shall fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a furniture frame structure, a pair of separately formed tubular frame members respectively affording elongated securing portions disposed in parallel spaced relation, a substantially U-shaped member having spaced limb portions between said spaced securing portions, at least one of said securing portions being deformed on the side adjacent the other securing portion, and said U- shaped member being formed complemental to said deformations, and means securing said securing portions to said U-shaped member with said deformations operatively engaged with complemental surfaces of said U-shaped member to prevent the rotation of said members along the axes of said securing portions.

2. In a furniture frame structure, a pair of separately formed tubular frame members respectively afiording elongated securing portions disposed in parallel spaced relation, a substantially U-shaped member having spaced limb portions lying between said securing portions, said securing portions being deformed on the proximate faces thereof, and means connecting said securing portions and cooperating with said deformations to prevent the rotation of said securing portions about their axes.

3. In a furniture frame structure, a pair of separately formed tubular frame members respeo- I tively affording elongated securing portions disposed in spaced parallel relation, said securing portions being transversely grooved on proximate faces thereof and said grooves being in register and in opposed relation, spacer elements engaging said opposed grooves, and means for securing said securing portions and said spacer elements iii together whereby said securing portions are prevented from rotation along their axes with respect to each other.

4, In a furniture frame structure, a pair of separately formed tubular frame members respeotively affording elongated securing portions disposed in spaced parallel relation, said securing portions being transversely grooved on proximate faces thereof and said grooves being in register and in opposed relation, spacer elements engaging said opposed grooves, means including a clamping bolt extended through one of said portions and a nut fixed to the other of said portions for securing said securing portions and said spacer elements together whereby said securing portions are prevented from rotation along their axes with respect to each other, and transverse grooves formed in the upper and lower faces of said other one of said portions opposite said bolt to prevent crushing of said other portion when clamping forces are applied by said bolt.

5. In a furniture frame structure, a pair of separately formed tubular frame members respectively affording elongated securing portions disposed in spaced parallel relation a substantially U-shaped member having limb portions lying between said securing portions, said securing portions being transversely grooved on proximate faces thereof and'said grooves being in register, spacer elements engaging said grooves in a complemental relation and means comprising a nut fixed to one of said portions and a bolt passing through the other of said portions to secure said portions together with the spacer therebetween.

WILLIAM N. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 768,819 Palmer Aug. 30, 1904 848,114 Medart Mar. 26, 1907 1,854,755 Mosel et a1 Apr. 19, 1932 1,867,226 Martin July 12, 1932 2,126,844 Uecker et al. Aug. 16, 1938 2,134,639 McGowen Oct. 25, 1938 2,172,611 Gerhardt et al Sept. 12, 1939 2,327,585 Ulrich Aug. 24, 1943 2,346,449 Noblitt Apr. 11, 1944 2,350,582 Booth June 6, 1944 2,454,699 Hirsch Nov. 23, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 612,287 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1948 

